“Well, that’s just fucking great.” She looked left and then right, but walked straight ahead. “Guesswork is always my favorite way to conduct a rescue mission.” She kept bitching as a way to deal with the Etheric strain. “I mean, having your onboard AI, your alien stowaway, or even a single fucking clue where you’re going aren’t at all fucking necessary when there are lives hanging in the balance, are they?”
ADAM and TOM exchanged the mental equivalent of a knowing glance without Bethany Anne noticing. Neither of them were going to offer themselves as a target for her simmering murderous feelings.
Bethany Anne ran a hand over the left thigh of her armor and accepted the sword hilt that pressed itself into her palm. She activated the Etheric blade and poked her head out to check her position, then pulled it straight back in again when she came face-to-face with a nest of tentacles.
She reached out with her free hand and dragged the surprised Ooken into the Etheric with her, then tossed it roughly to the ground and pressed the tip of her sword into the fleshy part under its tentacles.
The Ooken squirmed until the edge of Bethany Anne’s blade nicked a tentacle.
“What to do with you? Will the others know I killed you if you die in here?” Her lips pressed together in consideration for a second, then she shrugged. “I guess I’ll find out.” She flicked the sword hilt with a practiced twist of her wrist, and the Ooken’s head dropped onto the pile of its severed tentacles.
Bethany Anne wrinkled her nose as she turned away. “I think I might avoid spaghetti and meatballs for a while.” She gacked, and a moment later she peered out of the Etheric again, remembering to sense ahead this time to check that it was clear.
The route map reappeared in the top corner of her vision, and she saw that the building ahead and a level up was her target.
Ooken minds might be beyond Bethany Anne’s ability to read like Michael could, but she could easily sense when they were in the vicinity.
Like now.
However, Bethany Anne had her target in sight. Another short hop through the Etheric took her inside the building where the Ooken held the Leath children hostage against their parents’ good behavior.
Bethany Anne repressed her reaction to the conditions the children were being kept in. The single room had no bathroom, and the children had no food or water that she could see. She wanted more than anything to destroy the whole vile place.
Soon.
The children were asleep, huddled together in a rough bed that looked to Bethany Anne like it was made from whatever they'd been able to scavenge.
One of the larger children opened an eye, sensing that something had changed. He saw Bethany Anne standing in the shadows and jumped up in terror. He managed a single horrified word. “Empress!”
The other children woke up and had similar reactions. One of the smallest let out a shrill squeak and the air suddenly carried the tang of fresh urine.
Bethany Anne took a knee and held her hands out in a non-threatening way. It didn't take a mind reader or a genius to work out that she was the proverbial monster in the closet to generations of Leath. “Hey, it’s okay. I’m here to help.”
The children scuttled back against the wall as though she’d just told them they’d make good ingredients in a soup.
It wasn’t unexpected. Not every species she'd made contact with considered her a savior, and in the case of the Leath, it had taken a century of persuasion for her to convince them that their affiliation with the Seven would bring about their ultimate end.
She should be grateful she wasn’t here as Baba Yaga.
Of course, she was the end she had warned them about, and although the Leath had disavowed their false gods, it came as no surprise to find herself the object of the cautionary tales they passed down to future generations.
It didn't solve Bethany Anne's current dilemma, though.
Unfortunately, she’d had enough experience of situations like this. Well, too much, and she didn't deny it. She knew there was nothing she could do for these children except wipe herself from their memories.
Doubly unfortunate was that the mind wipe rendered the children unconscious.
Bethany Anne didn't feel as bad about the side-effect as she thought she should. After all, she wasn’t the one who had scared these children with stories of a woman who would in actuality defend them with her last breath if it came to it.
If she could save the children the extra layer of trauma that seeing their boogey-empress had caused, then a short nap wasn't a huge factor in the decision.
Bethany Anne shrugged and waved a hand over the children. Their peacefully sleeping bodies rose into the air on the cushions of Etheric energy she had formed beneath them, and they bobbed behind her into the Etheric.
The fact that she was finding it much easier to get them aboard the Izanami now they weren’t likely to bolt had nothing to do with her lack of guilt.
Nothing whatsoever.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Devon, Interdiction
CEREBRO registered the massive pulse of Etheric energy near the Achronyx’s position. They requested a report from Achronyx, adding the response to the mass of inputs they were processing from all over the Interdiction.
Data trickled back from the drones to the core group faster than human thought, giving CEREBRO the means to choreograph the mechanical side of the efforts and keep the organics alive.
Over by the satellites, the battle raged thick.
Tim whooped as his Pod completed its barrel roll by releasing two guided Etheric charges after the seeker. “Missed me, you mangy sphincter twinge!”
Sabine snickered, jerking her Pod up at the last moment and leaving her pursuer to get fried like a bug on a zapper in the active laser net. “Ma petit boulette, such passion, and all for a machine with no Ooken inside.”
Tim accepted her gentle teasing. “Just wait and see how ‘passionate’ I get if I get the chance to meet any of the squirmy-faced little fuck-knuckles in person.” There was a tiny pause. “What’s the team’s status?”
Sabine flipped her Pod around, spraying the drones around her location with tiny explosive pucks. “We’re doing great. A couple of minor scrapes, but otherwise the biggest challenge is keeping the area around us clear enough to work. They’re swamping us the second we defend elsewhere.”
Tim frowned at the expected news. “I’m getting that from across the fleet. But the Ooken can't have infinite resources. The tide will turn, babe.”
“Be sure to let me know when that happens,” she told him softly before dropping the connection.
Tim wanted nothing more than to tell her it already had. Bethany Anne had warned him about the Ooken numbers game, but it had to be experienced to be understood. However, the majority of the Gates had been taken out, and Tabitha was pulling some crazy shit right in the middle of it all.
Tim didn’t think the Ooken as a species were too bright. Their swarm tactics might have worked wherever they went before, but they hadn’t backed off at the realization that they’d kicked whatever their version of a hornet’s nest was. That made them dumber than a football in Tim’s opinion.
In fact, he thought they were even stupider than that, since this nest was filled with super-enhanced humans who were more than happy to scrub the chance of that stupidity spreading from the galactic stage completely.
Altogether, it was looking good.
He opened a mental link to Rickie back on the Guardian.
Rickie was his usual ebullient self. Heeeey, how’s it hanging? Having fun without me?
Tim rolled his eyes. The time of my fucking life, dude. It’s the quietest it’s been for weeks. Are all the refugees safely aboard the station?
We’re just processing the last few groups through triage, Rickie told him. How’s it really going?
Tim returned to the fleet reports as he spoke. We’re going to win, I have no doubt about that.
Buuuut? Rickie pressed.
But nothi
ng, Tim repeated, his voice taking on that edge that meant there would be no argument. We’re going to win.
Aw, shit.
Tim made a face. What?
It's just that I've got some private ships requesting permission to Gate out to the Interdiction, Rickie informed him. I kinda want to let them lend a hand.
What do you mean by “private ships?” Tim frowned, thinking that a few civilian ships were only going to distract the military fighters, who would feel duty-bound to protect them. Who are the owners?
Rickie was quiet for a moment. I just sent you the list.
Tim received Rickie's list and scrolled through it in his internal HUD. This looks like…everyone planetside with a ship.
Pretty much, Rickie confirmed. What are your orders?
Tim considered it for a long moment before lifting his hands. Devon has spoken, so what else can I do? Let them through.
The Etheric
Bethany Anne strode through the mists with the sleeping Leath children floating behind her at waist height. The strain of carrying the children increased with every step. You WILL get them home. You WILL deal with the strain or you WILL let John stand on your back…in high heels. Her lips, pressed together due to the strain, cracked a bit at that last thought.
She’d get them to the ship, and that was all there was to it.
Her feet weighed whole universes, but still she put one in front of the other, pushing forward and honing in on the beacon that was her own children. Alexis and Gabriel’s physical location was a warmth to her senses, guiding her back to the Izanami.
Eventually, after what felt like her entire life lived over again, Bethany Anne opened the way out of the Etheric. She staggered slightly as she guided the sleeping children into the repurposed cargo bay where Alexis and Gabriel were waiting on standby for her return.
They turned as one when she stepped into the bay with the Leath children still Etherically tethered to her. “Mom!”
Bethany Anne grinned tiredly at them. “Hey, kids. I'm home.”
The twins leapt into action immediately, adding their support to the energy Bethany Anne was using to hold the Leath children aloft.
Michael appeared in the bay’s transfer area a bare second later and took the load from her completely. Between the three of them, they got the children loaded into the empty Pod-docs.
Bethany Anne sank gratefully down on the closest flat surface, which happened to be the floor where she was standing. Where are the adults? she sent to Michael.
Michael looked at his wife, his brow furrowing when he saw her sitting cross-legged with her head resting on her folded hands. Mindwiped, sedated, and safely aboard their ship.
Bethany Anne lifted her head fractionally to raise an eyebrow. You got their ship? Color me impressed.
Michael winked. That was what Izanami said when she showed up with the Pods. Leave this to us. We have it all in hand.
Bethany Anne knew all too well what that twinkle in his eye meant. However, Michael would be Michael, and she was fucking exhausted from the constant drain-pull of getting them to the ship in the first place.
Thank you. She got to her reluctant feet and set them to walking once more. Now, if you don’t mind, I’ve got a date with my pillow, and it’s going to run for at least two hours.
ADAM spoke up again finally. >>Yeah, I don't think you're going to get that nap. I didn't want to distract you while you were busy with the Leath kids, but there's a situation at Devon.<<
Bethany Anne's fatigue fell away in an instant. “What situation at Devon?” she asked aloud for Michael’s benefit.
ADAM transferred his voice to the speaker. “The Ooken have attacked at the Interdiction. Achronyx is feeding me a play-by-play. It’s getting pretty big.”
“How big?” Gabriel asked, looking at the speaker. “Is the planet okay?”
“The planet is fine,” ADAM assured him.
Michael walked over to Bethany Anne and took her hand. “You still need to rest and recover from the effort of saving those children. I will wake you when we arrive.”
Bethany Anne squeezed his hand and let go. “You and I both know that’s not happening. I’ll be in my chambers if this,” she waved a finger over the Pod-docs, “doesn’t go as you expect and you need me.” She blew a kiss to Alexis and Gabriel. “Love you both. Be good for your father.”
Alexis put a hand to her chest, feigning offense. “Who, us?”
Bethany Anne chuckled softly as she left the bay. She didn’t technically need to make any of her calls using conventional methods, but she was getting back into the habit of making a physical call every now and then—when it mattered to her the most. That could wait until she got to her chambers.
Speaking to Admiral Thomas was her first priority, and she didn’t need to see his face to get this portion of her mental checklist completed. Admiral, report in. How is the operation progressing?
Almost complete, he replied. Hello to you, too, Bethany Anne.
The thought occurred that maybe he did have a point about her abruptness. One of these days we’ll meet when we’re not in a dire situation and I’ll remember.
Admiral Thomas laughed aloud. Not today, though?
Bethany Anne chuckled coldly. No. Devon is under attack.
By the Ooken?
Your astuteness is comforting, as usual. I’m going straight there, and I want the others to meet me there when they’re done. Can you coordinate the rest of the operation from there without us?
Um…
Bethany Anne pressed her lips together. There’s a problem? She accessed the operations logs, her eyes flicking from side to side as she read through while she walked. What is it? All I see is debris where there used to be planets, which is exactly what I asked for. Oh, location three is still active.
Admiral Thomas sighed in exasperation. It’s more of a complication. Remember I told you about the Moen? The servile species?
Mmhmm. She reached her chambers and stepped through the wall to get inside. What about them?
Well, we’re having some trouble freeing them. They’re suffering from some kind of alien version of Stockholm syndrome or something.
Bethany Anne touched her hand to her forehead and did something she hadn’t done for a very long time. She prayed for the patience to see this through without losing her shit at the absurdity of it all. Of course, they are.
If I apologize, will it help?
Bethany Anne snorted softly. Not really? But we need to do something about ensuring the Ooken don’t use the Moen as leverage. Okay, get the other locations wrapped up, then put a blockade on location three. Nothing and no one out, nothing in except for supplies approved by us. Make sure the Ooken know we’re watching them.
How long do you expect to need this blockade? Admiral Thomas asked.
However long it is until I get back from Devon, of course. Goodbye, Admiral. Bethany Anne cut the connection and waved a hand over her desk to activate the holoscreen.
Her call to the Achronyx went unanswered, and she tried again, with the same result. Bethany Anne was aware that the battle was still going on. She pinged Tabitha over their mental link.
She tapped a foot while she waited for an answer from Tabitha. Which didn’t come, because Tabitha had Achronyx screening for her.
Bethany Anne's patience had already worn thin. “ADAM, put me through to the bridge.”
The bridge of the Achronyx was empty. She tapped her fingers on the desk. “Clearly it’s not a life or death situation, so where is she?”
>>You should have called ahead,<< ADAM joked.
Bethany Anne frowned, then shrugged. “It’s not too late for that. Give me the ship’s speakers.”
Devon, Interdiction
Tabitha tipped her captain's chair back and squinted at the overwhelming light flooding the entire screen. “That's a big-ass Gate.”
“It is indeed,” Achronyx replied. “Shall we break it? I still have a few drones remaining.”
&nb
sp; Tabitha grinned. “We could do that…but I have another idea. Can you get me CEREBRO?”
Achronyx provided the necessary link between Tabitha’s mind and the core of the EI group.
Hey, CEREBRO. Do you have anything on the other side of the Gates?
Regretfully, we do not, the EI group replied. Everything we’ve sent through was destroyed before any data could be returned.
Tabitha smirked, lacing her hands behind her head as she arranged her feet on the console to get perfectly comfortable. I want to know where they’re coming from and what resources they have. That could be the homeworld sitting just on the other side. How about we work together and see if we can’t get an idea of what this group has to keep throwing at us so we can double it and be done here?
We like the odds of that, CEREBRO replied.
Oh, you all like to bet? Tabitha grinned. What am I talking about? You live for that shit. She sat forward and laced her hands under her chin. “Here’s what we’re going to do…”
At the other end of the battlefield, Tim’s Pod reached the open Gate as the first ships of the people’s fleet came through.
He heard his own voice issuing the first set of recorded instructions he’d given to CEREBRO to play into every personal ship that crossed the Gate.
The shimmering light was pierced by the smaller groups first—the angry citizens, the transport workers, and the everyday people who had access to a ship.
Tim saw ships of every kind, from tiny individual transports that bristled with weaponry designed to ward off chancers in the mean skies of Devon to gigantic freighters with massive company logos emblazoned across their flanks so that pirates knew who to call for the ransom. They all moved off to their assigned areas with more or less a minimum of drama.
Next came the mercenary companies, and Tim’s message switched to direct the skilled crews over to the main effort.
First out of the Gate were five battered junker-looking ships that Tim knew nevertheless would probably outlast cockroaches. Tim was well enough acquainted with the Shrillexian company commander to drink with her and a few others on occasion, and Lai-pen and her crew were just as durable as their ships.
The Kurtherian Endgame Boxed Set Page 94